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Camp of the 137th
Reg't N.Y. Vols.
Littletown, Pa., July 6, 1863
"The Army of the Potomac, advancing in three columns, by different
roads, began skirmishing with the rebels soon after crossing the Pennsylvania
line. The advance, consisting of the First and Eleventh corps, along with
Buford's cavalry, came up with Ewell's corps, 30,000 strong, about three
miles beyond Gettysburg, on the Chambersburg turnpike, and a heavy engagement
took place on the 1st of July. As the rest of the army was not within
supporting distance, our forces were compelled to fall back to the heights
east of the town. During the battle Gen. Reynolds was killed , and our
loss in killed and wounded was heavy. To compensate for this, the First
corps captured a large number of prisoners, including General Archer and
his whole brigade of ragamuffins.--- During the night the balance of the
army arrived on the ground, and took position in the line of battle. Our
corps, the Twelfth, was halting for dinner about five miles from the field
of conflict, and immediately hurried to the front, taking position on
the left of the line, and slept on our arms during the night. Early the
next morning we changed our position to the extreme right of the line;
occupying the ridge of a hill [Culp's Hill] overlooking the town of Gettysburg,
and commenced throwing up temporary breastworks. These were soon completed
, and carefully concealed by branches and leaves to deceive the enemy.
At precisely 4 P. M., the thundering of artillery on the left announced
the opening of the engagement, which soon spread along the whole length
of the line. The enemy came on in their usual style, massing their forces
against those portions of our line which they thought to be weakest, and
charged upon our batteries and entrenchments with fury of despair. The
left was hard pressed, and brigade after brigade was drawn from the right
to its assistance, until our brigade alone was left to defend the breastworks
previously occupied by the whole division. Our regiment and the 149th
were posted to guard the line of intrenchments thrown up by Kane's brigade,
thus scattering our small force over a distance four times greater than
that originally occupied by us. Just as this disposition of our troops
was made, firing on our front announced the advance of the rebels. The
pickets made a gallant stand and then fell back to the trenches. The approach
of the enemy was met by a rapid and deliberate fire from our men, who
stoutly maintained their position until it became so dark that we could
no longer discover the movements of the enemy. Then, taking advantage
of our want of support on the right, a body of rebels succeeded in turning
our right flank and gained a position behind a stone wall directly in
our rear, and not more than a hundred yards distant. A murderous fire
was opened upon us, and our regiment was ordered to fall back to the left.
Owing to the darkness and the nature of the ground, considerable confusion
ensued in executing this movement; but as soon as beyond the reach of
fire in their rear, the men rallied, and charged back with a cheer, drove
out the rebels, and resumed their position in the trenches, which they
held until relieved by Gen. Kane's brigade.
Thus
ended, on the right wing, the engagement of the 2d. It was a close and
bloody struggle.--- Our loss in officers and men was heavy. Capt. Gregg,
of Company I, fell mortally wounded [Gregg, from Newfield is buried in
the Bank Street Cemetery] while leading his men back to the trenches.
He behaved throughout with admirable courage and coolness, and his company
feel deeply the loss they have experienced in his death. Capt. Barrager,
Lieuts. Hallett, Van Amburg, Beecher and Douglass were wounded---Lieuts.
Hallett and Van Amburg mortally.
Early
in the morning we were again in the trenches, and the conflict was resumed
with additional vigor. The assault of the enemy upon our left having been
repulsed, the troops that had been withdrawn from our position were returned,
the breastworks were fully manned, and for nearly six hours the rattle
of musketry was incessant. Not an instant did the firing cease, but as
fast as those in the field exhausted their ammunitiion, fresh regiments
would come rushing up, cheering and with flags flying to relieve them.
Opposite to us was Stonewall Jackson's old corps, commaned by Ewell, who
fully maintained their hard-earned reputation for fighting, by holding
their ground for six hours against a storm of lead that plowed through
their ranks, causing every man to bite the dust who had the temerity to
show himself from behind the trees and rocks in our front. About 9 A.
M., a white flag was seen fluttering from some rocks in front of us. Instantly
the firing ceased, and a body of rebels, about fifty in number, sprang
forward, threw down their arms, and surrendered to Capt. Silas Pierson,
of Co. K. They declared themselves conscripts [draftees], and unable longer
to endurethe murderous fire from our men, had determined to throw themselves
upon our clemency rather than trust to the mercy of their own commanders,
should they be compelled to fall back. This forcibly illustrates the despotism
that exists in the rebel army.
The
firing then became less rapid, and the enemy soon retired, leaving a few
sharpshooters to annoy our men. During the day and night occasional shots
were exchanged, but on the morning of the 4th of July the battlefield
was clear, save of the dead and the dying. The spectacle was hideous.
The ground was strewn with the bodies of the dead, and few from which
life had not yet departed. The number of victims bore undisputable testimony
to the cool and accurate firing of our men. Over two thousand stand of
arms were collected from the field in front of our division
Source:
Ithaca Journal, July 15th, 1863. Information found by Jeremy
Clark and Trevor Dolge.
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